Deputy President William Ruto kicked out the media from a function he held in Njoro, Nakuru County with minority communities affected by the 2007 Post-Election violence.

In the event held on Monday, June 20, the DP was in the middle of an address when he ordered the media to exit the venue. His own press unit, which was streaming the video live on social media was also asked to leave and later pulled down the streamed footage. 

Prior to the directive, Ruto had narrated that minority groups in the Rift Valley region suffered the most in case of a breakout of the post-election violence. 

"I asked myself, the way Kenyan politics is structured after 2007 and the problem was when the politics get to where it got, It is the Rift valley people who get political problems. I sat down with Uhuru and we agreed.

Deputy President William Ruto together with his Running mate Rigathi Gachagua being cleared for the August 9 polls by IEBC officials at the Bomas of Kenya on June 4, 2022.

"I told him I was ready and I had a chance. Do we still have media houses here? You people get out we discuss important things," the DP stated. 

In a statement shared after the meeting, Ruto maintained that his movement was keen on embracing diversity as well as fostering peace across the country.

"We cannot move forward as a country through violence and ethnic balkanisation. As Kenya Kwanza, we are firm on communities and leaders actively accepting and embracing diversity. That way, we will build a cohesive, peaceful and better Kenya for everyone," he added.

The event was attended by grassroots leaders, opinion-shapers and professionals from Njoro and Molo who discussed their issues and priorities.

National leaders present included his running mate Rigathi Gachagua, National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi, Nakuru Senator Susan Kihika, Bahati MP Kimani Ngunjiri and Nakuru Senatorial Aspirant Tabitha Karanja among others.

In recent weeks, the Deputy President has fallen out with the media accusing them of impartiality in coverage and threatening to withdraw from the upcoming Presidential Debate.

Ruto specifically singled out Citizen TV, Inooro TV, Inooro FM and The Daily Nation as among the most notorious media houses in biased reporting against him. 

The Media Owners Association, however, maintained that the debate would carry own as planned noting that Ruto and other candidates were part of the planning process.

DP William Ruto during a campaign in Mandera on Wednesday, June 8, 2022. WILLIAM RUTO By Kenyans.co.ke